If You Build It, They Will Come

Here's my initial cut at MLB players with Iowa Connections.  Much more sparse than the NFL, so I will just list the teams that have connections. Note: Coaches in italics . 3 - Los Angeles (Angels) :       Anthony Benboom (Iowa Western CC), Tony Watson (Sioux City), Jake Petricka (Iowa Western CC) 2 - Detroit :       Derek Hill (Des Moines),  A.J. Hinch  (Waverly) 2 - Kansas City :       Daniel Tillo (Sioux City), Cal Eldred (Iowa) 1 - Boston :      Ramon Vazquez  (Indian Hills) 1 - New York Mets :       Eric Langill (Des Moines Area CC) 1 - Oakland :       A.J. Puk (Cedar Rapids) 1 - Pittsburgh :       Mitch Keller (Cedar Rapids) 1 - Seattle :     Erik Swanson (Iowa Western CC) 1 - Tampa Bay :  Michael Wacha (Iowa City) 1 - Toronto : Nick Allgeyer (Iowa) 1 - Washington :      Dakota Backus (Sou...

        Profile Larry Ball was a linebacker for the Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 1970s.  Born in Iowa City he attended Louisville before the pros.  If you are really up on your NFL history, you'll note that Miami and Tampa Bay are unique in the 1970s by have the only undefeated season (Miami) and a winless team (Tampa Bay).  In fact, Larry is the only player to play the full season for both teams*.   * Something you don't see anymore, one other Dolphin was drafted in the expansion draft by Tampa, but retired instead of playing with Tampa.  He opted to go to med school instead. Personal Notes So when I'm at a card show (sigh, I miss those), I did through a  lot of dime boxes.  When I run into a cluster of 1970s cards, I typically flip them over and go through the bio data, specifically college and birth place.  I can't always remember the older guys (although I am getting better), so I'll ca...

     NBA Draft Iowa Connections I'll be filling these in as I post in the blog.  I'll link to the players as they each get a post.  Currently, there eight years out of the 73 years that do not have a relevant Iowa basketball player (1950, 1954, 1955, 1972, 1994, 2005, 2009, 2011). Pre-Draft Era Hal Crisler, ISU 1947 Dick Ives, Iowa Herb Wilkinson, Iowa 1948 Ray Wehde, ISU Murray Wier, Iowa Gordon Flick, Drake 1949 John Pritchard, 7th, Drake Bill Evans, Drake 1951 John Rennicke, 6th, Drake Frank Clasbeek, 6th, Iowa 1952 Chuck Darling, 1st, Iowa Bob Clifton, Iowa 1953 Delmer Diercks, ISU 1956 Bill Logan, 5th, Iowa Carl Cain, Iowa 1957 Gary Thompson, 5th, ISU Phil Murrell, 6th, Drake 1958 Phil Murrell, 4th, Drake John Crawford, 6th, ISU Don Medsker, 12th, ISU 1959 Dave Gunther, 8th, Iowa 1960 Americas John-Lewis, 10th, Iowa 1961 Hank Whitney, 4th, ISU Gus Guydon, 4th, Drake Stacey Arceneaux, UDFA, ISU 1962 Don Nelson , 3rd, Iowa Jerry Foster, 6th, Drake Vince Brewe...

 I've already posted the ICY cards for Men's basketball and Women's basketball.  However, I have missed a bunch of cards that should have been included.  More awards (Clark), a new hire (Baranczyk) but mostly I just missed those Iowa players who left to play outside of Iowa.  Here's the rest (I hope) of the 2021 NCAA basketball cards.

Here's the final list of players with Iowa Connections in the NFL in 2020.  For shame Dallas, New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina.  I mean 3/4 NFC West teams had 0 Iowa Connections (the one team that did won the Super Bowl, think about that!) Note: Coaches in italics Iowa Hawkeyes : 46 Iowa State Cyclones : 15 Northern Iowa Panthers : 8 Iowa Western Community College : 3 Drake Bulldogs : 2 Ellsworth Community College : 2 Des Moines : 3 Iowa City : 1 Ames : 1 Cedar Falls : 1 Marion : 1 Johnston : 1 5 - Green Bay : Christian Kirksey, Josh Jackson , Jerry Montgomery (Iowa), Allen Lazard (ISU), Dominique Dafney (W. Des Moines) 5 - New England :    Carl Davis, James Ferentz, Ross Reynolds (Iowa), Xavier Williams (UNI), Nick Caley (ISU) 5 - Chicago : David Montgomery,  Jay Rodgers  (ISU), James Daniels /  Mark DeLeone  (Iowa),  Mike Furrey  (UNI) 4 - Buffalo : Ike Boettger /  AJ Epenesa  / Micah Hyde (Iowa), AJ Klein (IS...